Thomas County cat., 1887-03-17
A FOREST HOME.
Vividly-Related Story of a Woman
Pioneer.
Interesting Recital Of a Journey to and
Settlement in the Wilds of Minnesota
Indian Scares-RidiculOus
Incidents.

My husband was travelling man,
and by strict economy we had saved
considerable money and owned num-
Der of houses. We had been married
about seven years. when one evening
in the spring of 1S5- he said: Il would
like to 90 to Minnesota Ghen a Terri
tory and start town. Are you will
ing to 90 with me?" / said was 1t
was early spring. and cold. We con-
-c!uded to wait till the weather was
warm and pleasant. We began to pre-
pare for the journey. he in disposing of
property and in sewing and making
ready to pack. We made great mis-
take in our preparations. Instead of
taking only what was actually neces-
sary we packed furniture, etc, enough
for two or three log houses. After
talking the matter over he decided to
60 ont first and locate a place before
taking his family. l employed an ex-
perienccd hand to pack our piano. and
it was so well done that after being on
the road for six months (and part of
the way, some twenty-five miles,
it was carried through the woods
by eight men) it arrived in good con-
-dition and tone. had. with the help
of others. almost every thing packed
and ready when my husband returned
after an absence of little over two
weeks. He had fortunately met man
whose claim laid between two lakes
and was twenty-five miles from any
town. The man was willing to join
with him in starting Il town. and sold
him the undivided half. 1t was one
bright morning in May that. our house
hold goods having all been safely
stored on steamboat, we said goodbye
to our friends and started down the
Ohio. Our journey by water was long
but pleasant. l had become accus-
toned TO being pointed at rs the little
woman who was going TO live in the
wilds of Minnesota. The boat landed
one day and a man and woman came
on board. The woman had mans
straw hat on. and belted around her
waist were two revolvers and knife.
/ was brought to her notice. and she
advised me to turn back She said the
woods were full of centipedes. snakes,
horrible bugs and spiders, besides the
danger from Indians.
Arriving at the end of our journey
by water, my husband. after seeing the
children and myself comfortably set
tied at the hotel. left in the company
of two or three others with whom he
had become acquainted during our
journey. and who had decided to locate
near his place. He left with the in
tention of returning for us rs soon as
he had house built. but had to build
n house for store. l heard OCCASION
ally from my husband. Every thing
was going on well. He had built two
log houses. and had been to Dubuque
and bought goods for tie store. About
this time l was taken very sick with
typhoid fever. A physician was called.
but l continued to grow worse. My
husband was sent for. and for fews
days it was matter of life and death.
when change for the better took
place, and in the course of a week or
ten days had become so much better
that he concluded to take us back with
him. Our household good had been
nearly all removed to our home.
Among the furniture remaining was
large sofa. 1t was placed in the wagon.
and, with some pillows loaned
by the landlord, was made
as comfortable as possible. We then
started on our wearisome journey of
twenty-five miles, the most Of the way
through woods, no road. but over rough,
uneven ground, obliged to stop occa-
sicnally to cut down tree to make
way for the wagon. Twas completely